Mitsubishi XForce: X marks the spot

The local compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) segment has seen several entrants from various brands. With the Mitsubishi XForce looking to tick all the boxes Filipino car buyers are looking for, does it have what it takes to sway the public into its favor? 

We spent a week with the newest addition to Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation’s stable. Here’s what we found out. 

Head-turner 

It’s true that the population of the Mitsubishi XForce is not yet as large as some more established nameplates, like the Toyota Raize. So it’s understandable to have other motorists take quick glances at the vehicle when we’re on the road rolling, or in the parking lot, just chilling. 

To help you get an idea of what we’re talking about, let’s take a quick look at its notable exterior features. 

First, the Mitsubishi XForce has an undeniably striking fascia. The fore is decorated with a dynamic grille with a three-dimensional honeycomb design. The T-shaped headlights too, that flank the latticework, demand attention. Finally, the lower front bumper is robust and reinforces the compact SUV’s athletic appeal. 

At some point, the author had one person walk up to him at the parking lot of a coffee shop, noting that the large silver garnish on the headlamp — coupled with the layered design of the lights — make it look like an air vent. 

It did take me several looks, and probably some squinting of the eye, but yes. It does look like it has air vents at the fore. 

Another thing to point out is that the front bumper neatly hides the front fog lamps of the Mitsubishi XForce, which is really helpful when driving in the rain. 

Onto its sides are angled panels. From the driver’s seat, one can make out the sculpted side profile of the vehicle. Not that the writer has obsessive compulsive behavior, but he prefers to see the door’s surfaces whenever he could, to check for dirt, scratches, or whatnot. 

Speaking of which, the good thing is that the Mitsubishi XForce wears robust claddings all around. The wheel arches, and lower portions of the door, are fitted with durable plastic coverings protecting common touch points from abrasions and road debris. 

These pair well with the model’s black side mirrors (with integrated turn signals), pillars, and roof. 

One will also appreciate that the Mitsubishi XForce rides on a set of 18-inch alloy wheels. These are shod in 225/50 road tires. Not only do they help absorb and dampen road imperfections, but they also tuck the wheels ever so slightly, protecting it from gutter hits and pothole damages that are prevalent in our urban thoroughfares. 

Finally, the hind side of the compact SUV dons a look as dynamic as the front end. At the top is a roof-mounted spoiler with a high-mount stop lamp, a decent-sized window with a built-in wiper, T-shaped taillamps, and a bumper that echoes the design at the head. 

The tailgate by the way is automatic, adding convenience to the everyday experience of its owners. 

Overall, the Mitsubishi XForce answers the common requirements of the majority of Filipino car buyers. As for the writer, these include a handsome-looking ride, some LED illumination, some protective panels, and good ground clearance. 

So far, the compact SUV has all that covered. 

Here are its dimensions: 

Length, width, height (in millimeters [mm>)	4,390 x 1,810 x 1,660
Wheelbase (in mm)	2,650
Ground clearance (in mm)	193

Modern interior 

It’s common for Japanese-made compact SUVs to offer just decent interior amenities. It’s true they may not be the best-looking and the most modern iterations of the technologies they represent, but you will feel they have that longevity in them and they work. 

Nevertheless, those who will check out the Mitsubishi XForce will find that its cabin not only looks modern but also offers technologies that will appease tech-savvy car buyers. 

Facing the driver is an eight-inch colored instrument panel. The screen displays relevant driving data in crisp detail such as the following: 

• Speed
• Revolutions per minute 
• Drive mode
• Engaged gear 
• Trip meter 
• Fuel gauge 

Since it is all digital, one can see a graphic representation of the selected drive mode, which is cool. 

It is accompanied by a 12.3-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Like the digital instrument cluster, it also has various graphic features when switching through drive modes. 

Here, one can also check out various display options that suit their style and driving needs. For example, if you feel like exploring, the display can change into a more adventurous layout with an integrated clinometer, which shows the vehicle’s tilt angle, alongside gauges for altitude and direction (via a compass). 

Our favorite is the Avionics display, which shows the below details: 

• Tire pressure 
• Brake temperature
• Coolant temperature 
• Acceleration 
• Vacuum
• Torque 

Aside from providing good display, the screen too is connected to an eight-speaker Yamaha sound system tuned by Yamaha sound meisters. The sound quality is good and immersive. 

Other notable interior features:

• Leather upholstery 
• Soft-touch fabric-like applique on dashboard 
• Center console box with cooling 
• Wireless phone charger 
• Dual-zone automatic air conditioning system with nanoe X

In general, the cabin atmosphere of the Mitsubishi XForce is fairly conducive. The abundance of soft-touch panels inside make it feel luxurious and the screens provide a wow-factor not only for the driver, but also the passengers aboard the compact SUV. 

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Decent powertrain 

Under the bonnet of the Mitsubishi XForce is a 1.5-liter gasoline engine mated to a continuously variable transmission. It’s a naturally-aspirated mill, but is capable nonetheless. 

The transmission provides a linear power delivery that is easy to get used to. Likewise, power delivery is decent enough that you will not have to floor the pedal to reach expressway pace. Little pedal play too is needed to maintain power at high speeds. 

On the other hand, steering while on high speeds require some refinement as it feels light when going fast. Meanwhile, there is sufficient weight to the wheel when treading slow. 

Breaking is good as the Mitsubishi XForce uses disc brakes front and back. For its suspension, it uses a MacPherson strut at the fore and a torsion beam setup at the rear. Despite how basic the arrangement looks on paper, the compact SUV is equipped with active yaw control, which assists drivers turn safely as intended even on slippery roads, which is pretty nice.

Here are the Mitsubishi XForce’s performance figures: 

Maximum power output (in horsepower)	103
Maximum torque (in Newton-meters)	141

Overall, the driving experience the Mitsubishi XForce provides is pretty enjoyable. While you can’t expect much from a non-turbocharged powerplant, the active yaw control and other drive modes available at the driver’s disposal makes sitting behind the wheel fun. 

Ample safety features

Here are the safety technologies offered by the Mitsubishi XForce: 

• Airbags 
• Seatbelts 
• Reverse camera
• Rear proximity sensors 
• Active stability control 
• Traction control 
• Active yaw control 
• Hill-start assist 

It also has advanced driver-assist features, which include the below: 

• Forward-collision mitigation 
• Lead car departure notification 
• Blind spot warning system 
• Rear cross-traffic alert 
• Automatic high beam 
• Adaptive cruise control

Final thoughts 

The Mitsubishi XForce does check all the right boxes, and more. 

While the writer is not a fan of loud-looking cars, the compact SUV can get away with its modern-looking exterior. Its interior too is something to consider as it packs plenty of offerings that today’s generation of car buyers will surely appreciate. 

At the time of writing, the Mitsubishi XForce is sold in two variants: GT CVT and GLS CVT. They are priced at P1.581 million and P1.367 million respectively. 

You might want to check out a video we did for our sister platform Carmudi Philippines. Below is our quick walk around tour of the model: 

Also read: 

Dongfeng Rich 7 4X4 Upper: ideal entry-level truck

Ford Everest Sport Special Edition: ‘tough’-tier SUV

Toyota Corolla Cross GR-S HEV: sporty yet sustainable

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